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Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

  • Author: Avery
  • Total Time: 6–7 hours 15 minutes (LOW) or 3–4 hours 15 minutes (HIGH)
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

Tangy, tender chicken meets a bright sweet-and-sour sauce your slow cooker does the work. Juicy pineapple, bell pepper, and onion simmer with soy, ketchup, brown sugar, and rice vinegar for a takeout-style favorite made easy. Serve over fluffy rice and finish with green onions for a fresh, craveable dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Cooked rice, for serving
  • Chopped green onions, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
  2. Add pineapple chunks, bell pepper, and onion over the chicken.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
  4. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is very tender.
  6. Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the cooker and stir to coat in the sauce.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning. If desired, thicken the sauce (see Notes).
  8. Serve over cooked rice and garnish with chopped green onions.

Notes

  • For a thicker sauce, mix 1–2 tablespoons cornstarch with an equal amount of water, then stir it in and cook on HIGH for 15–20 minutes until glossy.
  • Use low-sodium soy sauce to better control salt levels.
  • Adjust the brown sugar or vinegar to balance the sweet-tangy flavor.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6–7 hours (LOW) or 3–4 hours (HIGH)
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Chinese-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe (about 1.5 cups chicken and sauce)
  • Calories: 320 kcal
  • Sugar: 24 g
  • Sodium: 1200 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 115 mg

Keywords: slow cooker, crockpot, sweet and sour chicken, pineapple chicken, easy dinner, takeout fakeaway, weeknight meal, family friendly

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Find it online: https://averyrecipes.com/slow-cooker-sweet-and-sour-chicken/